AZ Nancy Guthrie, 84, (mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie) missing - last seen in the Catalina foothills area on Jan 31, 2026

[IQuestion]

I have the feeling a criminal would take an elderly person in order to delay discovery of the crime. If everyone thinks Grandma is at the grocery store or visiting a neighbor, it give the criminal ample opportunity of distancing themselves from the crime scene. Five hours head start could already have a criminal in another state or even in another country depending on geographics. It also gives them a time to se up/or suggest to a supporting alibi. "Yeah, honey, I stayed up and fell asleep on the sofa until morning."
Have any of the neighbors recently had a "home/dog sitter" who frequently stays/stayed in the area? Since there are no street lights, someone walking dogs in the evening wouldn't raise any flags, but it also makes it very easy to see into the lighted interiors of the occupied homes. When one walks dogs, you know which homes have dogs who alert to their presence....a pretty safe way to "case the neighborhood," Huh???
My questions are almost rhetorical as I am sure LE is asking all the above.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

Why take a body to access that?

I know it's a usual motive, but I'm not seeing it in this particular case.

Still hopeful she is somehow found safe, while also considering we won't.

jmo

Whatever the motive, I think she was alive when she left the house.
I just can’t see anybody leaving with body.

 

[whitelilac]

Does she have any other children beyond Savannah? Wikipedia didn't reveal anything one way or another.

Yes...iirc from one of the articles, Savannah has two sisters living there.

 

[RainyDazeKS]

BBM
Do you happen to know if this is a gated community?

I can confirm this is not a gated neighborhood. The main road this neighborhood is off of is basically just cacti and trees.

 

[Inthedetails]

Happened on a Saturday night (well, early morning on Sunday). The perp wasn't getting up to go to work or church in the morning, imo.

Doesn't narrow it down, necessarily, but just noting the day of week.

jmo

 

[mpnola]

Did anyone see the new Dateline type show this week called Harlan Cobens final twist or something like that? This case reminds me so much of that. An elderly lady went missing. Turned out to be her painter that she was so kind to. He was married but had a "thing" (as the cops called it) for older ladies. He SA her, punched her, threw her in the back of his truck and dumped her. They only found her bc he took them there. I think there are reasons people would move a person, even if it wasn't for money. He said he killed her bc she could identify him.

I hate even writing that because I want this sweet lady to be ok. But the signs are not looking good.

 

[Sadi]

Why take a body to access that?

I know it's a usual motive, but I'm not seeing it in this particular case.

Still hopeful she is somehow found safe, while also considering we won't.

jmo

Out of frustration if she wasn’t able to give the amount of money demanded (causing her to fear and then causing harm to her)? Maybe they know specific or heard her discuss her finances? I’m not sure.
Are the neighbors worried about their own safety? Has LE addressed that?

 

[PipeyRella]

Sorry if already asked and answered-anyone know how she gets to church?

I haven't seen this answered or mentioned anywhere with certainty. I did see in the police dispatch posted earlier that they mentioned her car was still at the house so I am assuming she drives herself to church (not confirmed).

 

[Magic8Ball]

Yep. That's where my thinking is going too.

Or cui could get angry enough to commit crimes if they felt they were no longer able to bono in some way or another. This sounds potentially personal.

Has it ever specifically been confirmed that she lives alone?

A reporter asked at the tail end of LE's press conference earlier today if she lives alone and LE confirmed she does live alone.
Another reporter asked a follow-up question about whether or not she had a caregiver living with her and LE said no, nobody who actually lives there with her.

Said she has some "house staff" who help with lawn and house stuff, but no live-in help, apparently.

In an effort to continue living in their homes independently, a lot of seniors with health/mobility issues (who can afford it) have private duty caregivers who aren't round-the-clock, but they're in the home many hours a week. She may very well have private duty care services, just not 24-7. (This last bit is my speculation, not LE talking).

JMO.

 

[MesquiteO21]

Yes...iirc from one of the articles, Savannah has two sisters living there.

i believe it's a brother and sister. <modsnip>

Savannah Guthrie’s Siblings ‘Want Everybody to Know’ Their Missing Mom Didn’t ‘Wander Off’ as Concerning Evidence Sparks the Involvement of Homicide Detectives

What happened to Nancy Guthrie?

www.yahoo.com

moo

 

[Beans]

A reporter asked at the tail end of LE's press conference earlier today if she lives alone and LE confirmed she does live alone.
Another reporter asked a follow-up question about whether or not she had a caregiver living with her and LE said no, nobody who actually lives there with her.

Said she has some "house staff" who help with lawn and house stuff, but no live-in help, apparently.

In an effort to continue living in their homes independently, a lot of seniors with health/mobility issues (who can afford it) have private duty caregivers who aren't round-the-clock, but they're in the home many hours a week. She may very well have private duty care services, just not 24-7.

JMO.

All probably amounting to a decent number of people who might be able to access the property without necessarily 'breaking in'. Not that we know there definitely wasn't a break-in situation here ofc, I'm just speculating. It just doesn't hit me as the sort of crime committed by a stranger.

 

[tlcya]

A reporter asked at the tail end of LE's press conference earlier today if she lives alone and LE confirmed she does live alone.
Another reporter asked a follow-up question about whether or not she had a caregiver living with her and LE said no, nobody who actually lives there with her.

Said she has some "house staff" who help with lawn and house stuff, but no live-in help, apparently.

In an effort to continue living in their homes independently, a lot of seniors with health/mobility issues (who can afford it) have private duty caregivers who aren't round-the-clock, but they're in the home many hours a week. She may very well have private duty care services, just not 24-7.

JMO.

I also wonder if she had had anything remodeled or repaired recently causing new persons to be in or around her home outside of the usual helper people. perhaps appliance, electrical, plumbing, internet, landline, etc.

 

[Beans]

I was watching the police helicopter for a while (doing the usual squiggly searching pattern) then looked away, and when I went back the helicopter had returned to the airport and we now have this mysterious little yellow plane with no id, flying in a perfect circle around Nancy's address. What could this be?

 

[SeattleStew]

I don't get asking the neighbors to check their ring cams unless they're thinking that they're going to find something around their houses because in that area ring cams don't show the street they just show what's around the property.

I don't know how far the street is from where the Ring camera would be mounted, but mine records about 50 feet out, includes my street, and any cars. To be clear, my Ring doesn't alert to 50 feet out, but it does film 50 feet out. I can go back to any time and look at the view to the street from my Ring app on my phone.

 

[LAhiker]

I was watching the police helicopter for a while (doing the usual squiggly searching pattern) then looked away, and when I went back the helicopter had returned to the airport and we now have this mysterious little yellow plane with no id, flying in a perfect circle around Nancy's address. What could this be?

View attachment 641296

Could this be a drone of some sort?

 

[SeattleStew]

I'll take drugs for $300 Alex

Too many valuables left behind. One thing that always stuck with me in the Jayme Closs case, was the valuables left behind, wallet and guns for example, told me this was not a burglary.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

I haven't seen this answered or mentioned anywhere with certainty. I did see in the police dispatch posted earlier that they mentioned her car was still at the house so I am assuming she drives herself to church (not confirmed).

I assumed that as well.... given that it was people at church who noticed she was not at church on Sunday am.

 

[Deepinthought52]

Okay, there goes the theory it was someone who dropped her off/picked her up.

jmopinion

Probably unless person went back…

 

[RainyDazeKS]

Out of frustration if she wasn’t able to give the amount of money demanded (causing her to fear and then causing harm to her)? Maybe they know specific or heard her discuss her finances? I’m not sure.
Are the neighbors worried about their own safety? Has LE addressed that?

Neighbors have said they are not concerned for their safety. This is a very safe and nice area, which makes something like this very unusual in this part of Tucson.

 

[doublestop]

I wonder if she proudly mentioned to some worker at her house "that's my daughter!" while having the Today show on, and that person decided she must be wealthy, and came back to rob her later.